Japan This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Japan ISO Code: JP JPN 392 FIPS 10-4 Code: JA Description The symbol in the centre of the "Hi-no-maru" (the Japanese national flag) is the state "Mon" or emblem. It has been the state symbol of Japan for centuries. The flag became the National Flag following the Meiji Restoration in 1868. It never had rays. Graham Bartram, 09 November 1998 In 1999 , Japan adopted new legislation on the national flag. The legislation set an official national flag with 2:3 proportion, and the sun disc at 3/5 of hoist length in the center with BENI-IRO on white field.

A long time dispute was concluded on which flag should be official/legal national flag whether decree no 651 of Oct 3, 1870 (2:3, 3/5, in the center) originally legislated for the Japanese Naval flag or decree no 57 of Jan 27 1870 (7:10, 3/5, 1/100 towards hoist) originally legislated for the Japanese Merchant flag. Nozomi Kariyasu, 5 August 1999, 22 January 2000 While Album des pavillons [pay00] gives the Pantone color as red 186C, I have a fabric sample on file which suggests the use of Pantone 193C. Christopher Southworth, 22 December 2005 Comparisons of old and new flag decrees (Click on image to enlarge) From: Japan: an illustrated encyclopedia Vol. 2 (M-Z): national flag (kokki). The national flag of Japan has a crimson disc, symbolizing the sun, in the center of a white field.

It is popularly known as the Hinomaru (literally, "sun disc"). It is said that at the time of the Mongol Invasions of Japan (1274 and 1281) the priest Nichiren presented a sun flag to the shogun. The Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1867) adopted the flag for its ships in the early 1600s. In the mid-19th century the shogunate decreed that all Japanese ships fly flags with the sun on a white field. In 1870 the Meiji government officially designated it for use on Japanese merchant and naval ships. It has never been officially designated as the national flag; however, it has become so by customary use. The "rising-sun" flag with 16 rays used by the former Japanese navy and by the present Maritime Self Defense Forces is a military service flag and should not be confused with the national flag. Beside a drawing of the flag is the following text: The design and proportions of Japan's national flag were fixed in 1870 by the Meiji government.

The vertical to horizontal ratio was set at 2:3, the disc was to be placed at the exact center, and the diameter of the disc was to equal three-fifths of the vertical measurement of the flag. Marcus Schmöger, 27 August 2001 The name of Nichiren means the sun and lotus in English (Nichi = Nihon = the sun; Ren = lotus ) and the lotus is a typical symbol of Buddhism. That is why he gave the sun (and lotus) to the Shogun who at that time was politically opposed to the Emperor (who was a God in Shintoism). Nichiren is said the greatest Buddhist in Japan because a majority of Japanese are not Shintoist but Buddhist. The Nichiren was formed his organization which is now called Soka-Gakkai whose political part is Komei-tou which is composed of the present Japanese cabinet. I think he believed his flag could help the Shogun, who had military power, to save Japan and the people from Mongol Invasion. He could not find any reason for him to give his flag to the Emperor who is believed the God and son of the Sun but who had no ability to defeat Mongolian.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 29 August 2001 Nichiren's purpose was to motivate the political powers to abandon the more popular Buddhist sects and to accept the Lotus Sutra as the one sure way to save Japan. His was a religious and philosophical movement, not a political one. At the same time he issued to the government a treatise entitled "Rissho Ankoku Ron" which predicted great disaster for Japan should they not retreat from the heretical (popular) Buddhist sects and accept his teachings. Bruce Ward, 2 September 2001 At (a Japanese language webpage) there is a chronology of the history of Japanese flags, anthems, et cetera, based on contemporary official documents. A few interesting things: On June 13, 1870, the Army "National Flag" was gazetted as a 16-ray Rising Sun flag, 4 feet 4 inches by 5 feet, with the centrally-located sun disc one-third the width of the flag. There was no fringe.

On October 27, 1870, The Navy "National Flag" was gazetted as the Hinomaru, 7 feet 8 inches by 11 feet 7 inches, with the centrally-located sun disc three-fifths the width of the flag. The Jack was the same, but in 6 feet by 8 feet. Also gazetted were the flag of the Emperor and the flag of the Imperial Family, shown as the Emperor's Flag, 1870-1879 and Royal Family, 1976 (Family). Dimensions same as the "National Flag". These flags lasted until October 8, 1889, when the current set of flags were adopted. On July 30, 1912, to mark the passing of Emperor Meiji, the Hinomaru was required to have a strip of black cloth flown above it, as well as a black cloth to cover the flagpole's ball finial.

On March 25, 1931 the Imperial Diet attempted to legislate the Hinomaru as the official National Flag and also its official specifications; it passed the House of Commons, but did not go through the House of Peers. Miles Li, 30 November 2006 image by Antonio Martins The Prime Minister's Proclamation No. 57 issued on January 27 in the 3rd Year of Neiji (1870): Regulations of Merchant Ship (abridged) 1. The national flag: This shall not be removed and even a ferryboat shall keep it hoisted. Hoist it at 8 a.m. every morning and haul it down at sunset every evening. In case of non-hoisting of the national flag it is customary of the international law that no plea is justified it treated as pirates. 2. The dimensions of the national flag: The ratio of the hoist and fly 7:10. The diameter of the disc: three fifths of the hoist length of the flag locating in the center. Regulated as above for strict observances. Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Source: Japanese National flag - Japanese National symbol Marks.

Tokyo: Kokki Kyokai (National Flag Association), circa 1970. p. 3. Jos Poels, 18 January 1996 What does the Japanese flag symbolize? | Reference.com What does the Japanese flag symbolize? A: Quick Answer The Japanese flag symbolizes a rising sun. The official name of the flag is Nisshoki, which means "sun marked flag." The red circle on the flag is called Hinomaru or "circle of the sun." Scholars believe the flag has existed in some form since the 12th century, though it did not become the de facto flag until 1870 and was not legally adopted as the national flag until 1999, the same year Japan's national anthem became official. . Full Answer There is some scholarly debate about the reasons for the origin of the flag. Japan is known as the Land of the Rising Sun due to its location in East Asia, and many believe the flag is based upon this idea. The sun is also a very important symbol in Japan. In fact, Japan's royal family is said to be descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

"Nippon," the Japanese name for Japan, literally translates to "source of the sun." Previous versions of the flag included rays around the sun, and the white surrounding the red sun is believed to symbolize purity. Between the end of World War II and 1947, laws heavily restricted the public display of the flag due to the occupation of Japan during that time. Japanese Conception of Red - Is Red the Color of Love? Japanese Conception of Red - Is Red the Color of Love? David Clapp. Photolibrary By Namiko Abe Updated February 09, 2016. Red is generally called " aka （赤）" in Japanese. There are many traditional shades of red . The Japanese gave each shade of red its own elegant name in the old days. Shuiro (vermilion), akaneiro (madder red), enji (dark red), karakurenai (crimson) and hiiro (scarlet) are among of them. The Japanese especially love the red that is obtained from safflower (benibana), and it was very popular in the Heian period (794-1185).

Some of the beautiful clothing that were dyed with safflower red are well-preserved in the Shousouin at Todaiji Temple, more than 1200 years later. Safflower dyes were also used as lipstick and rouge by court ladies. At Horyuji Temple , the world's oldest wooden buildings, their walls were all painted with shuiiro (vermilion). Many torii (Shinto shrine archways) are also painted this color. In some culture the color of the sun is considered yellow (or even other colors). However, most Japanese think that the sun is red. Children usually draw the sun as a big red circle. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge The Japanese national flag (kokki) has a red circle on a white background. Just like the British flag is called "the Union Jack," the Japanese flag is called "hinomaru （日の丸）." "Hinomaru" which literally means, "the sun's circle." Since "Nihon (Japan)" basically means, "Land of the rising sun," the red circle represents the sun.

There is a word called "hinomaru-bentou （日の丸弁当）." "Bentou" is a Japanese boxed lunch. It consisted of a bed of white rice with a red pickled plum ( umeboshi ) in the center. It was promoted as a simple, staple meal during World Wars, a time that was hard to get a variety of foods. The name came from the meal's appearance that closely resembled the "hinomaru." It is still quite popular today, though usually as a part of other dishes. The combination of red and white (kouhaku) is a symbol for auspicious or happy occasions. The long curtains with red and white stripes are hung in wedding receptions. "Kouhaku manjuu (pairs of red and white steamed rice cakes with sweet beans fillings)" are often offered as gifts at weddings, graduations or other auspicious commemorative events. Red and white "mizuhiki (ceremonial paper strings)" are used as gift wrapping ornaments for weddings and other auspicious occasions. On the other hand, black (kuro) and white (shiro) are used for sad occasions. They are the usual colors of mourning.

"Sekihan （赤飯）" literally means, "red rice." It is also a dish that is served on auspicious occasions. The red color of the rice makes for a festive mood. The color is from red beans cooked with rice. A Baby is called "akachan （赤ちゃん）" or "akanbou （赤ん坊）." The word came from a baby's red face. "Aka-chouchin （赤提灯）" literally means, "red lantern." They refer to traditional bars that you can cheaply eat and drink at. They are usually located on the side streets in busy urban areas, and often have a red lantern lit out front. Here are some other expressions including the word red. The connotations of red in Japanese include "complete" or "clear" such expressions as "akahadaka （赤裸）," "aka no tanin （赤の他人）," "makkana uso （真っ赤なうそ）." The interesting thing is that it is black that has the connotation of completeness (e.g. a black lie) in English. akago no te o hineru 赤子の手をひねる --- To describe something easily done.

Literally means, "To twist a baby's hand." akahadaka 赤裸 --- Stark-naked, completely nude. akahaji o kaku 赤恥をかく --- Be put to shame in public, be humiliated. akaji 赤字 --- A deficit. akaku naru 赤くなる --- To blush, to turn red with embarrassment. aka no tanin 赤の他人 --- A complete stranger. akashingou 赤信号 --- A red traffic light, a danger signal. makkana uso 真っ赤なうそ --- A downright (barefaced) lie. shu ni majiwareba akaku naru 朱に交われば赤くなる --- You cannot touch pitch without being defiled. Japan Flag | Japanese Flag North Korea Flag Japanese Flag Description Japan's flag is a rectangle with a ratio of 2:3, although the original ratio of the flag was 7:10. The Japanese flag is white with a deep red disc in the center.

Japan's location to the east of Asia, from the direction the sun rises, helped Japan earn the nickname, "Land of the Rising Sun." This nickname is reflected in the nation's flag, the sun represented by the red disc. History of Japan's Flag Japan has been associated with the symbol of the sun since at least the seventh century, and although the exact origin of the flag is not known, most scholars believe it is related to the country's nickname. Other theories include a representation of the sun goddess Amaterasu, from which Japan's Imperial family is said to have descended. A sun flag was used by shogun in the thirteenth century, when the Japanese fought the invasion of the Mongolians. The Hinomaru was made official in 1870 as a merchant flag, becoming the first national flag adopted in Japan from 1870 to 1885, when the flag became the de facto flag but not the legal flag. The flag's use was heavily restricted during Japan's occupation after World War II until 1947 when the restrictions began to be lifted. In 1999, a law was passed to make the Hinomaru Japan's official national flag.

Variants The Japanese flag has had several variants, primarily versions that include rays of the sun. The Rising Sun Flag is used as the naval ensign, and features an off center sun disc surrounded by sixteen red rays of sunshine. Similar Flags The Bangladesh flag is similar to Japan's, with a red disc on a green background. The Bangladesh flag is different in that the disc sits to the left of center, and originally had a gold map of the country on the disc. Palau's flag also resembles Japans, though it is a yellow disc on a light blue background. Palau was administered by Japan from 1914 to 1944, but its flag symbolizes the moon in the sky. ACOD~20120807 History of the South Korean flag This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website History of the South Korean flag General Information I noted this link (Korea.net) today with interesting information on adoption of Korean flag. Including a June 29, 1942 date for adoption by the exile government of the flag. King Gojong appointed Bak Yeoung-hyo as his ambassador to Japan in September 1882.

While aboard ship heading for Japan, Bak drew a national flag with a taegeuk circle but included only four trigrams instead of eight, and started using the flag on the 25th of that month. On October 3, Bak reported this change to King Gojong who formally proclaimed the Taegeukgi as the national flag on March 6, 1883. For some unknown reason, however, he did not have formal instructions published at that time on how to make the flag. In fact, it wasn't till June 29, 1942, that the provisional Korean government in exile enacted a law on the uniform method of making the national flag. The law was promulgated but as the government was in exile, it was not widely known to Koreans at home still under Japanese colonial rule. Following the founding of the Republic of Korea on August 15, 1948, the government felt that it should codify the method of making the national flag. This prompted the government to form a special commission in January 1949 that issued the provision on the national flag on October 15 of that year.

Since then, the Republic of Korea has been using the Taegeukgi as the national flag. Standard color shades of Taegeukgi, the Korean National Flag are as follows: in the CIE System, the x, y, and Y coordinates for the red are x=0.5640, y=0.3194, Y=15.3; for the blue, x=0.1556, y=0.1354, Y=6.5. Alternatively, in the Munsell System of Color Notation, the red corresponds to 6.0R 4.5/14, and the blue to 5.0PB 3.0/12. In the Pantone Matching System, 186C red and 294C blue are recommended. Taegeukgi, the national flag of the Republic of Korea, consists of a blue and red yin-yang circle in the center, one black trigram in each of the four corners, and a white background. The white background of Taegeukgi symbolizes light and purity and reflects the Korean people's traditional affinity for peace.

The yin-yang circle, divided equally into a blue portion below and a red portion above, represents the dual cosmic forces of yin (blue) and yang (red). It symbolizes universal harmony, in which the passive and the active, the feminine and the masculine, form the whole. The four trigrams of Geon, Gon, Gam, and Li, which surround the yin-yang circle, denote the process of yin and yang going through a series of changes and growth. Geon, with three solid bars in the upper left-hand corner, denotes "heaven". Gon, with three evenly divided bars in the lower right-hand corner, denotes "earth". Gam, with one evenly divided bar on each side of one solid bar in the upper right-hand corner, denotes "water". And Li, with one solid bar on each side of one evenly divided bar in the lower left-hand corner, denotes "fire." Collectively, the yin-yang circle and the four trigrams represent universal harmony and unity. Taegeukgi embodies the ideals of all Koreans, who have pursued creativity and prosperity under universal principles and truth.

Ben Cahoon, 25 March 2008 Eight Kwae I just opened by chance my Crampton's Complete Guide to Flags, 1990 [cra90f] , just on the page where Korea is and noticed a sentence that did not sound familiar. So, it says: South Korea has kept the flag of the former Kingdom of Korea, although it has been modified. ... and the trigrams (kwae) are reduced from eight to four." So, what was the flag of the Kingdom of Korea with 8 kwaes? When did the change occur? Željko Heimer, 13 January 1999 Earliest representation flag image by Antonio Martins-Tuvalkin, 24 September 2003 stamp images contributed by Diedrik Nelson, 20 May 2006 This is perhaps the oldest representation of the South Korean flag. Patrick Kirol, 11 March 2000 I think the number 8 comes naturally (2x2x2). Either of the three lines in a trigram can be either yin (- -) or yang (---).

According to my I Ching, the symbolism is this: yin-yin-yin (K'un) - earth - mother/receptive (lower fly of S. Korean flag) yin-yin-yang (Kęn) - mountain - third son/keeping still yin-yang-yin (K'an) - water - second son/abysmal (upper fly) yin-yang-yang (Sun) - wind - first daughter/gentle yang-yin-yin (Chęn) - thunder - first son/the arousing yang-yin-yang (Li) - fire - second daughter/clinging (lower hoist) yang-yang-yin (Tui) - lake - third daughter/joyful yang-yang-yang (Ch'ien) - heaven - father/creative (upper hoist) Ole Andersen, 14 January 1999 Chinese wind rose with 8 kwae by Mark Sensen The I Ching , the "Book of Changes", mentioned by Ole consists of the 64 combinations you get by combining the 8 kwae and was and is used by fortune-tellers to give answers to questions.

[Source: Hans Biederman, "Prisma van de symbolen", 1991/1996, Dutch translation of "Knaurs Lexicon der Symbole"] The flag was first hoisted 22 August 1882 when the first ambassadors were sent to Japan, an adopted officially 27 January 1883. Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 and annexed on 22 August 1910. After the liberation the country was divided along the 38th degree of latitude. The Republic of Korea was established in the southern (American) zone on 15 August 1948, which readopted the flag in the same year when the colours and shape were established by law. On 25 January 1950 the flag was adopted officially when the kwae were revised slightly. In 1984 the lay-out was again slightly changed.

[Sources: Barraclough, Flags of the World 1981 [c2b81] ; Whitney Smith, Spectrum Vlaggenboek, 1976 [smi76a] ; Kent Alexander, Flags of the World, 1992.] [a Mark Sensen, 14 January 1999 This was done eight months before independence by General MacArthur. [Source: H. Gresham Carr, Flags of the World, 1956. [car56] ] I forgot to mention the flag is known as T'aeguk or "Great Polarity". [Source: William Crampton, The World's Flags, 1990 [cra90c] .] Mark Sensen, 14 January 1999 Korea 1856 image by Jaume Ollé, 27 December 2009 The yellow flag charged with a black Chinese style dragon and blue clouds with red fringe. The flag is titled as Korean National flag in Flag Chart published in Japan in 1856 and 1871.

Nozomi Kariyasu, 27 December 2009 Korea 1876 image by Jaume Ollé, 27 December 2009 The blue flag charged with a yellow Chinese style dragon with yellow border and red fringe. The flag is titled as Korean King Standard in Flag Chart published in Japan in 1876. Nozomi Kariyasu, 27 December 2009 image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 13 October 2009 Korean Flag 1882 from Flags of Maritime Nations published in July 28, 1882 by U.S. Navy. Nozomi Kariyasu, 13 October 2009 image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 13 October 2009 Korean Flag 1888 from Symbol of Korea published in 2008 Korea. Nozomi Kariyasu, 13 October 2009 Royal Korean Consulate in Hamburg 1893 images by Antonio Martins I have a photocopy of an article by H.G.

Ströhl called "Wappen und Flagge von Korea" in Herold, Oct. 1893, nr. 10, XXIV. It shows two flags. The first is labeled "Koreanische Flagge" and is like the modern flag, but the yin-yang - sign is much more intricate and the upper part is blue, the lower blue. According to the text normally only the 4 main kwae appear on the flag, most of the time blue. It also says that the arrangement of the kwae is not always the same. The second flag shown is the one flown at the Royal Korean Consulate in Hamburg, and has 8 kwae, coloured yellow. The yin-yang - sign is like on the modern flag, but rotated 90 degrees anti-clockwise. I have some doubts if the arrangement of these 8 kwae is correct, since two opposing kwae are not each others inversion. On the image of an old Chinese wind rose shown in the article they are inverted, so maybe that arrangement is more correct.

Mark Sensen, 14 January 1999 It is interesting to note that the flag called the Royal Korean Consulate flag has a different arrangement of the trigraphs. I have noticed that the Koreans are very exact in describing the layout of their flag (10:15). Yet the flag that is flown on holidays is not of the same proportions as that shown in the official description of their flag, the main difference being the addition of extra white to the field of the flag on the side away from the flag pole. The additional material gives the flag the same length as the US flag (10:19). The ordering of the trigrams in the tooth edge flag matches that of the Hou Tian (latter heaven) ordering of the trigrams of the Chinese Yi Ching. Patrick Kirol, 11 March 2000 During the Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) the Korean t'aeguk circle flag was prohibited to use. The Japanese governor of Korea's flag was used that is light blue flag with Japanese national flag (hinomaru) in a canton like British blue ensign despite of a different color shade.

The canton is one fourth of whole flag in size. The light blue stands for justice, fairness and philanthropy. 1910-1883 Korea used a similar flag to present flag. The t'aeguk is longer than current one and colour was reverse: blue over red. The black four trigrams are placed in differently: There were two broken and one unbroken lines in upper left/ three unbroken lines in upper right/three broken lines in bottom left/one broken and two unbroken lines in bottom right. 1876-1854 An old Japanese flag book published in 1876/1854 shows square yellow flag with red rugged border as a Korean King's standard. The flag bears a green dragon having red tongue and gray clouds. Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 March 1999 The early history of the Korean national flag seems to have remained rather obscure, according to a paper by Elizabeth Pyon published on-line in the Korea Herlad, 18 December 2001. The paper reports recent findings on the invention of the first Korean national flag, which seem to disagree with the traditional explanations. The research was done by Dr.

Kim Sang-Sup, a "reformist" researcher specialized in the Yi-ching. Dr. Kim based his conclusions on several historical official documents of the end of the 19th century. The national Korean flag was used for the first time by a Korean diplomatic mission sent to Japan in 1882. This was the first diplomatic mission ever sent by Korea. King Gojong ordered the Chief of the delegation, Prince Pak Yeong-Hyo, to hoist the Korean national flag on the vessel used by the mission. These are historical facts. Moreover, it is often said that King Gojon himself designed the flag in the beginning of the 1880s. He wanted to express his resistance to foreign influence and his willing to preserve the independence of his Kingdom. Unfortunately, this theory is not backed up by any serious evidence. The historical records studied by Dr. Kim give a completely different history. In 1875, a Japanese fleet sailed too close to the Ganghwa Island and had an altercation with the Korean army. The Koreans shot the Japanese flag. This was used as a pretext by the Japanese army for a retaliation campaign. Before this event, there was little interest in Korea for a national symbol.

King Gojong asked his suzereign, the Emperor of China, for advice on the question of the flag. Chinese experts suggested a flag similar to the Chinese flag of the time, a dragon with five claws on a yellow background. The Korean court, however, rejected the proposal of a dragon with four claws on a blue background, which was considered "too sophisticated". In April 1882, an official Korean-Chinese meeting was held to discuss the question of the Korean flag. The "teaguk" emblem was proposed for the first time during this meeting. Official documents of the Korean Royal court state that the Chinese delegate Ma Chien-Chung promoted the use of the Yin-Yang spiral in red and blue and eight combinations of the Yi-ching, and imposed his views to the Korean delegate Kim Hong-Jip. Ma Chien-chung explained the symbolism of his proposal. The eight Yi-ching diagrams matched the eight Korean provinces, and red was the colour of the King whereas blue was the colour of ordinary people. Korea eventually adopted its flag under Chinese pressure and used it for its first diplomatic mission as said above.

The first version of the "taeguk" was very close to the original Yi-Ching diagram, which includes eight subdiagrams. The deletion of four of these subdiagrams is reported in the diary of Prince Pak Yeong-Hyo. The Prince showed the original flag design to James, the British captain of the vessel used for the mission. James found the design too complicated and proposed to delete four of the eight Yi-Ching diagrams. Ivan Sache, 15 August 2002 From: "Discovery of Old Flag Discredits 'Taegukgi' Legend by Yu Seok-jae The oldest picture of a "Taegukgi," the national flag of Korea, has been discovered, giving insight into how the flag's symbols came to be used. The Taegukgi was found in the "Flags of Maritime Nations," issued by the U.S. Navy Department's Bureau of Navigation in July 1882, and with its red and blue yin-yang symbol and four black trigrams has the same form as the current Korean flag.

This Taegukgi would be two or three months older than the one used by Park Yeong-hyo, who is known as the first to make and use a four- trigram flag. Park did so during a diplomatic mission to Japan from August to September of 1882.oldest Taegukgi, the national flag of Korea, was found. This version is listed in `Flags of Maritime Nations,' published by the Bureau of Navigation at the U.S. Navy Department in July 1882. This version uses the four trigrams from the Book of Changes. Until now, Park Yeong-hyo was known as the first person to use four trigrams from the Book of Changes. The flag was published two or three months before Park moved to Japan. contributed by Jan Mertens, 20 August 2004 Note: bibliographic information on the Flags of Maritime Nations is at [usn82] Yoon Sojung reports on Korea.net , 29 February 2008, the discovery of a copy of the Korean national flag dated 1882.

[...]Discovered in the National Archives of the United Kingdom, this copy of the flag was enclosed in a letter written by then-Japanese vice foreign minister Yoshida Kiyonari to U.K. ambassador to Japan Harry Parkes in November 1882, according to Korea's Independence Hall. In the letter, the Japanese vice foreign minister introduced the copy as the national flag of Korea to the British ambassador. This copy shows one of the oldest designs, which was originally created by Bak Yeong-hyo (1861-1939) during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in September 1882. Bak was appointed by Emperor Gojong (1852-1919), as Joseon's ambassador to Japan in September 1882. While aboard a ship heading for Japan, Bak drew a national flag with a taegeuk circle and included only four trigrams, and started using the flag on the 25th of that month. On October 3, he reported this to King Gojong, who formally proclaimed the Taegeukgi as the national flag on March 6, 1883.

This copy has a taegeuk circle painted in red and blue representing the yin and yang that symbolizes universal harmony, one black trigram in each of the four corners and a white background. The white background of taegeukgi symbolizes light and purity and reflects the Korean people's traditional affinity for peace. The four trigrams of Geon, Gon, Gam, and Li, painted in blue in this copy, which surround the yin-yang circle, denote the process of yin and yang going through a series of changes and growth. The image of the flag copy, shown on "Korean.net" casts some doubt on the 1893 flag reported by H.G. Ströhl in Herold (above). Ivan Sache, 4 March 2008 Japan Coloring Page | crayola.com Color Online > Add to favorites Use Crayola® crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color the flag of Japan. Color the circle red, and color (or leave) the rest of the flag white. Did you know?Japan is a chain of islands located in eastern Asia.

The Japanese Constitution Memorial Day is a national holiday commemorating the adoption of Japan’s constitution on May 3, 1947. More + Less - Five fun facts about the flag of Japan | RocketNews24 Five fun facts about the flag of Japan Tweet You’ve seen it flying high above government buildings and waved wildly during the Olympics, but how well do you actually know the Japanese flag? Let’s take a look at five facts about that familiar dotted flag. 1) The official name of the flag of Japan is 日章旗 (nisshoki, meaning “sun-mark flag”), but most people just call it 日の丸 (hinomaru, meaning “circle of the sun”). As you may have guessed, the red circle in the middle of the flag represents the sun. 2) The first documented use of the flag of Japan was in 701, as mentioned in the Shoku Nihongi, a classical Japanese history text, which credited Emperor Mommu with the flag’s use. However, the flag wasn’t officially adopted by the Japanese government until 1999 after the signing of the Law Regarding the National Flag and National Anthem. 3) The dimensions of the national flag are extremely specific.

The length and height must be at a ratio of 3 to 2 and the red circle must be exactly centered and 3/5 the width of the flag. Confused? So were we, so take a look at this handy diagram for a clearer picture: 4) The flag of Japan isn’t white and red, it’s white and crimson. ▼ Look strange? That’s because it’s red. ▼ This is what the flag of Japan should look like. Bright and crimson! 5) The largest national flag in Japan is located at Izumo Shrine in Shimane Prefecture. It measures 9m x 13.6m (29.5ft x 44.6ft) and is 47 m (154ft) in the air. It weighs an impressive 49kg (108 lbs). ▼ Look at it wave in the breeze! It’s huuuuge! ***BONUS*** Although no longer officially used by the government of Japan because of its militaristic and imperialistic connotations, the Rising Sun Flag was adopted as the national flag in 1870.

However, the flag continues to be used on commercial packaging and by the Japan Self-Defense Force, but is considered offensive to countries with strong anti-Japanese sentiment, especially China and South Korea. So how much did you really know about the flag of Japan? Are you surprised by any of the facts above? Japan Flag Printables Shop Japan Flag Printables The Japanese flag has a simple design of a white background with a large red circle in the centre which represents the sun. The flag is known as Hinomaru which means ‘circle of the sun’. We've got a complete set of our flag printables based on the Japanese flag, below. Japan Flag - World Flags 101 - Japanian Flags Proportions: 2:3 Japanese Flag Description: The flag of Japan consists of a white background with a red circle in the middle. Japanese Flag Meaning: The circle in the middle of the flag represents the sun. Japan's name translates to "The land of the rising sun." The white represents honesty and purity and the red disc is a sun symbol meaning brightness, sincerity and warmth. Advertiser Links [ what's this? ] Japanese Flag History: The current Japanese flag was adopted on August 13, 1999.

The symbol in the flag is the state emblem and has been the symbol of Japan for centuries. The Japanese flag initially became the country's national flag in 1868. The Japanese flag was modified slightly by new legislation in 1999. Legend says its origins lie in the days of Mongol invasions of Japan in the 13th century, when a Buddhist priest offered the sun disc flag to the Emperor of Japan, who was considered a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu. Interesting Japanese Flag Facts: The national flag of Japan is known as the 'Nisshohki' or 'Hinomaru' which means 'sun disc' in Japanese. The sun disc symbol is known to have been displayed on folding fans used by samurai in the 12th century. World FlagsAlphabetical list of all world flags. J

Question: What colour is the circle on the Japanese flag?
Answer: Red